(Sigwaca House)
MBABANE – It is official!
Mbabane Highlanders are out of the Ingwenyama Cup after the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC) found them guilty in all three charges against them for the Mavuso Sports Centre mayhem.
This was during an over four-hour case, which was held at the Sigwaca House last night. The team were brought before the Thulani Sibandze-chaired Committee after their supporters allegedly caused the abandonment of their Ingwenyama Cup Last 16 match against Nsingizini Hotspurs last month.
The match was disrupted with a minute to play after a portion of alleged Highlanders supporters invaded the pitch in pursuit of referee Celumusa Siphepho. Siphepho, according to his report and that of the match official, he was attacked and assaulted by the supporters.
The verdict was delivered at around 10pm after the DC panel has listened to the submission from both Highlanders and the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Prosecutor Sibusiso Manda.
The chairman acknowledged that the electronic evidence, which was brought by the club, helped them to see what really transpired at Mavuso as they were in the dark.
"Having heard the submissions from both clubs, we are of the view that Mbabane Highlanders are found guilty in all three charges," Sibandze said.
In count one, the black and white capital city giants were found guilty of causing the abandonment of match and were fined E25 000 and lost the match to Nsingizini Hotspurs.
"The team in count two of attacking and assaulting the referee, which is considered as a serious offence is ordered to pay E50 000," Sibandze said.
Meanwhile, in count three of failure to control their fans, they were fined E3 000 and Sibandze clarified that all the charges will run concurrently, meaning that the team will only pay E50 000.
The team were further reminded that they could only appeal the decision by the EFA DC after getting the written verdict.
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